Phoenix
Go to Phoenix they said, it will be fun, they said.
Alright, they weren't wrong. However, whoever said that didn't suffer the fate of travelling to Arizona in the dead-heat of summer. With temperatures soaring up to 110 degrees, our pasty Wisconsinite bodies weren't quite sure what they were in for.
After purchasing a bottle of jumbo sized sunscreen and a case of water for the road, we were ready to discover what Phoenix had to offer. Below are some of my favorite sights in the area!
Phoenix Public Market:
Fresh off the plane, naturally our first stop was food inspired. The Public Market has a great reputation online and was even recommended to us by a few experienced AZ travelers. The ambiance in the Public Market is trendy and welcoming. I ordered a sandwich and some of the best darn lemonade I've ever had. We hung out on the outdoor patio and soaked up a few droplets from the Six Flags style misters overhead.
Southern Mountain Preserve:
Before embarking on our journey I never realized that Phoenix is surrounded by gorgeous scenery. Mountains, cacti and desert creatures, oh my! One of our main objectives on this trip was to hike anywhere and everywhere we could. This later proved to be difficult due to that hot, hot heat. Another thing worth noting is the elevation in Arizona can mess with your head if your from a state with a low altitude like we are. Sadly, both Jake and I had dull headaches a majority of the trip because of this.
Headache or not we were ready to conquer. And boy, was it worth it!
We opted to drive to the tippy-top of one of the Southern Mountain summits. A scenic 5.5 mile drive later we found ourselves at the Dobbin Lookout. The views were unmatched!
Bat Cave:
Nanananananana-Batman! Ok, not that kind of "bat cave", but I couldn't resist throwing that in there.
Did you know that Phoenix is home to a rather large bat colony? These little guys have made the flood control ditch near 40th street their home. Slowly but surely, after sunset bats begin to flee the "cave" in search of dinner. What starts out as a trickle turns into a flood as literally thousands of bats begin to exit the ditch to join the hunt.
The Phoenix Bat Cave is a unique experience for any animal enthusiast. Maybe you'll even encounter a young Bruce Wayne during your visit.
Hole in the Rock
After spending a few days in the Sonoran Desert an easy hike was more than welcome. A naturally formed wonder from years of erosion, Hole in the Rock is estimated to be between 6-15 million years old. The steep but short hike to the top is worth it as this destination offers amazing views of the city below.
Natural Museum of Natural History
In an attempt to cool-off we sought an indoor activity. The lucky winner was the Museum of Natural History in Mesa. Famous for their dinos, minerals and archaeology it's easy to kill a few hours looking around. We found ourselves panning for gold, posing with a T Rex and getting ready for our close-up.
Welcome Diner
Last but not least, the Welcome Diner! This place was a top result on Yelp so you know it's gotta be good! The Welcome Diner is an adorable little spot with a chill patio area. We enjoyed some amazing locally brewed hefeweizen and delightful food. Jake tried a peanut butter and pickle cheeseburger and claims it was the best burger he's had in his life.
Even if you aren't too hungry come here for the brews. Our drinks were excellent and the atmosphere was cozy.
Alright, they weren't wrong. However, whoever said that didn't suffer the fate of travelling to Arizona in the dead-heat of summer. With temperatures soaring up to 110 degrees, our pasty Wisconsinite bodies weren't quite sure what they were in for.
After purchasing a bottle of jumbo sized sunscreen and a case of water for the road, we were ready to discover what Phoenix had to offer. Below are some of my favorite sights in the area!
Phoenix Public Market:
Fresh off the plane, naturally our first stop was food inspired. The Public Market has a great reputation online and was even recommended to us by a few experienced AZ travelers. The ambiance in the Public Market is trendy and welcoming. I ordered a sandwich and some of the best darn lemonade I've ever had. We hung out on the outdoor patio and soaked up a few droplets from the Six Flags style misters overhead.
Southern Mountain Preserve:
Before embarking on our journey I never realized that Phoenix is surrounded by gorgeous scenery. Mountains, cacti and desert creatures, oh my! One of our main objectives on this trip was to hike anywhere and everywhere we could. This later proved to be difficult due to that hot, hot heat. Another thing worth noting is the elevation in Arizona can mess with your head if your from a state with a low altitude like we are. Sadly, both Jake and I had dull headaches a majority of the trip because of this.
Headache or not we were ready to conquer. And boy, was it worth it!
We opted to drive to the tippy-top of one of the Southern Mountain summits. A scenic 5.5 mile drive later we found ourselves at the Dobbin Lookout. The views were unmatched!
Bat Cave:
Nanananananana-Batman! Ok, not that kind of "bat cave", but I couldn't resist throwing that in there.
Did you know that Phoenix is home to a rather large bat colony? These little guys have made the flood control ditch near 40th street their home. Slowly but surely, after sunset bats begin to flee the "cave" in search of dinner. What starts out as a trickle turns into a flood as literally thousands of bats begin to exit the ditch to join the hunt.
The Phoenix Bat Cave is a unique experience for any animal enthusiast. Maybe you'll even encounter a young Bruce Wayne during your visit.
Hole in the Rock
After spending a few days in the Sonoran Desert an easy hike was more than welcome. A naturally formed wonder from years of erosion, Hole in the Rock is estimated to be between 6-15 million years old. The steep but short hike to the top is worth it as this destination offers amazing views of the city below.
Natural Museum of Natural History
In an attempt to cool-off we sought an indoor activity. The lucky winner was the Museum of Natural History in Mesa. Famous for their dinos, minerals and archaeology it's easy to kill a few hours looking around. We found ourselves panning for gold, posing with a T Rex and getting ready for our close-up.
Welcome Diner
Last but not least, the Welcome Diner! This place was a top result on Yelp so you know it's gotta be good! The Welcome Diner is an adorable little spot with a chill patio area. We enjoyed some amazing locally brewed hefeweizen and delightful food. Jake tried a peanut butter and pickle cheeseburger and claims it was the best burger he's had in his life.
Even if you aren't too hungry come here for the brews. Our drinks were excellent and the atmosphere was cozy.
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